Reporter’s note: This week concludes a four-part series about the fading role of Jesus Christ in Christmas. Past coverage has delved into Christmas in schools, feasts and music. This week we look into the Christian view that Dec. 25 should not mark the end of Christmas celebrating.
If you’re looking for an excuse beyond laziness to leave those holiday decorations in place — even the tree — then simply turn to the reason behind Christmas in the first place.
“The Feast of the Epiphany recalls the visit of the Three Wise Men,” informs father Leonard Paul, who at 87 has delivered his share of sermons on Christmas. He’s been ordained nearly 60 years, and presented his first sermon to parishioners at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Suttons Bay nearly 12 years ago on the very subject.
“From scripture, they did not arrive on the night of our Lord’s birth, but some time later,” Paul explained. “Which is why King Herod asked them, ‘When did you see the Star (of Bethlehem)?’, so he could eliminate his competitors.”
With no trains, planes or automobiles — or Ubers — available, the kings, who hailed from different corners of the known world, traveled by horse, camel and elephant to pay their respects to the newborn baby Jesus. Traditional Christian teaching puts the lag time at a dozen days, although research dictates that the lapse must have been longer.
But secular thought of today often pushes the “12 Days of Christmas” ahead of Dec. 25, which is when they begin.
Alan Schaub of Suttons Bay, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion with the Catholic Church, believes the arrival of the Three Wise Men represent an early but important moment in the formation of a new church to follow the teachings of Jesus. The kings were not Jewish; they represented the tribes of Earth — which signaled that the Christian faith was a gift for all people.
“That is when the truth of Jesus is revealed to the world. The Magi saw the star that led them to Mary. Something led them to him, and he was revealed to the world. The Wise Men represented many nations,” Schaub said.
His wife, Karen, makes a point to keep Christmas symbolism in place through the Epiphany, which is celebrated on Jan. 6. “You celebrate Christmas at least through that time,” she said.
Or longer. Religious leaders in the county point out that the teachings of Jesus and his disciples — faith, hope and love — should not dissolve after wrapping paper is tossed.
“It’s actually the beginning of the redemption story, which starts with Christ’s birth,” said Lucy Schaub, pastor at Lake Leelanau Community Church. “That’s when all the love that God has for us came down to earth. The Three Wise Men came one way to see the child Jesus, and had to leave another. When we come to Jesus, we come one way and leave another … our broken lives are healed.
“We are saved and start a new life.”
Colin Anderson, pastor of First Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay, sermonizes from the opposite side of the longevity scale from father Paul. First Lutheran is his first stop out of seminary school. He and his wife, Hannah, and their 2 1/2 and 6-month old children moved to Suttons Bay in July 2022.
The days that follow Christmas should mean more than holiday clean-up to him. Eventually he’d like to start a church service recognizing the Epiphany to keep its meaning from fading.
“The word epiphany means to reveal, or manifestation. It’s like a lightbulb going off … it’s the continuation of Christmas, the revealing of the reason for Christmas. Who knows where the Wise Men carry that message, but they told the story to those they encountered,” Anderson said.
It’s unfortunate that so many people move quickly on to New Year’s Eve parties after Christmas, Anderson said.
“It’s culture and our society, they are the reasons why Christmas seems to end on Christmas and begins way too early. Because of the commercialism, you see Christmas stuff in stores months ahead of Christmas. But it’s not about the gifts of this world. We cherish those moments of Christmas, those memories of family. But the ultimate gift is Jesus himself. We’ve lost that as a whole. I think the Christian church can bring it back. Maybe we should just do more teaching,” Anderson suggested.
On that thought, young and old keepers of the faith are on the same page.
“That’s why they make so much of Santa Claus, in spite of the fact he was taken from a Catholic bishop,” Paul said. “They want to replace Jesus with Santa. The older I get the more contempt I have about Santa Claus. One should be talking about the birth of Jesus, which is how I was raised.”
Despite his misgivings about Santa’s dominant role at Christmas, Paul acknowledges his importance to children.
“I learned early in life that there was no Santa Claus, but I didn’t tell my younger brothers,” he confides.
